NT mining equipment company climbs to new heights with government-sponsored trade mission

When Kiwi fitter-welder Chris Carlson first came to the Northern Territory, he was simply looking for work. Years later, he's become a manufacturing stalwart of the Territory, with his elaborate hydraulic safety access ladder systems for big earth movers in the mining industry. An NT-sponsored trade mission to the 2005 Balikpapan Mining Expo was a key event in the production of the ladder.

Carlson became interested in mining maintenance and fabrication shortly after his arrival, and he soon headed to Darwin to build up his mining experience. In 1998, he struck out on his own, working as a lone operator from the back of his truck. But before too long, he'd grown the business substantially, adding staff and offering specialized fabrication of machinery and water tanks for the industry.

When he got the opportunity through the Territory's Trade Support Scheme to attend the mining expo, he had no idea how it would transform the business. There, he met Daryl Wolf of HexIndo, the Indonesian branch of Hitachi's earth moving division. Wolf was looking for a ladder which could access his biggest earth movers – and he wanted it to have minimal moving parts and be cost-effective at the same time.

Carlson and his crew tackled the challenge, and Wolf was suitably impressed. HexIndo immediately ordered a number of ladders, and demand for the LT100-2 Double Actuating Hydraulic Safety Access Ladder System has continued to grow. The four- to five-metre long hydraulically operated ladders uncoil automatically, allowing drivers safe access to the earth movers. The $27,000 ladders are in such high demand that Linetec has actually had to sell off its prototypes to keep up.

Northern Territory Chief Minister Paul Henderson takes some credit for Linetec's success. "My government’s Trade Division supports businesses such as Linetec through our Trade Support Scheme, helping them identify opportunities and providing introductions to international companies," he says. "The production of the LT100-2 ladder was the result of Linetec’s participation in the NT Government’s trade mission. Linetec is a key player in placing Darwin as a top regional service and supply base to both the mining and petroleum industries."

Carlson's quick to agree that government trade delegation and financial support has benefitted the company. "They're a big help," he told Territory Quarterly. "If I hadn't gone to the first mining expo, there would be no ladders to sell."
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